The Nike LeBron 17 was released in 2019. The shoes were designed to cushion the feet of LeBron. The size of James, along with the power he played with, put a lot of wear and tear on his feet. The 17 was crafted especially for LeBron and the demands his unique game puts on his body.
17
Cushioning was the key to the 17 in the mind of LeBron. It was what he wanted Nike to focus on. He wanted a smoother and softer ride. To supply the ultimate cushion, Nike would put Air everywhere it could in the shoe, in the Heel and Forefoot for example. There is a lightweight Knitposite upper. The upper allowed for elite movement and flexibility. Designer Jason Petrie wanted Max Air to protect LeBron. That lead to the largest Max Air unit ever in the heel of a basketball shoe. The Max Air unit didn’t sacrifice comfort. It was an incredibly stable shoe for LeBron.
Hail To The King
LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 straight out of high school. His impact as a teenager was instant – both on the court and off. King James delivered from the very start in the NBA and earned Rookie of the Year honors. The King never slowed down after his first season in the league, and he has achieved some of the most iconic moments in basketball history. “The Decision,” overcoming a 3-1 game deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals and bringing a championship to his hometown team, the list goes on and on. Everything he did on the court, the spectacular dunks, the game changing defensive plays, were done wearing Nikes.
A King’s Ransom
When LeBron signed with Nike as a teenager, he was given a seven year deal worth 90 million. After that deal expired, the King and Nike would eventually agree to a rare in the industry, lifetime deal. Nike and LeBron have agreed to a forever marriage that reportedly brings LeBron 30 million a year and the total deal is supposedly worth more than 1 billion. It is believed that LeBron’s signature line, which includes shoes and apparel, is estimated to earn Nike more than $600 million a year.
- Adam C. Better
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